[Congressional Record Volume 152, Number 93 (Monday, July 17, 2006)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E1418]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]


[[Page E1418]]
FANNIE LOU HAMER, ROSA PARKS, AND CORETTA SCOTT KING VOTING RIGHTS ACT 
               REAUTHORIZATION AND AMENDMENTS ACT OF 2006

                                 ______
                                 

                               speech of

                        HON. K. MICHAEL CONAWAY

                                of texas

                    in the house of representatives

                        Thursday, July 13, 2006

       The House in Committee of the Whole House on the State of 
     the Union had under consideration the bill (H.R. 9) to amend 
     the Voting Rights Act of 1965:

  Mr. CONAWAY. Mr. Chairman, after careful and thoughtful 
consideration, I could not in good conscience vote in support of H.R. 
9, the reauthorization of the Voting Rights Act (VRA). The 1965 VRA 
successfully protected minority voters from disenfranchisement and 
strengthened our democracy. I support that law and realize its valuable 
contributions to our society.
  Every citizen of this great Nation, regardless of race, should have 
the opportunity to cast their vote without fear of threats or 
discrimination. The VRA was a good idea and necessary in 1965, however, 
times have changed drastically since it was originally enacted more 
than 40 years ago.
  During the debate, a good friend of mine, Rep. Roscoe Bartlett of 
Maryland, made the comment: ``When you get sick, you go to the doctor 
and you get a prescription. Once you get well you stop taking the 
medicine.'' The provisions of the Voting Rights Act we voted on today 
do not recognize the accomplishments and progress made by covered 
States since the original VRA was enacted.
  Today, the majority of electoral discrimination cases come from 
outside the jurisdictions that are covered under Section 5. The Voting 
Rights Act up for debate today should have recognized the many changes 
and improvements in the American South. Under the bill that passed 
today, Texas remains one of only eight States subject to this gross 
infringement on State's rights. Today, Texas is one of the most diverse 
States in the entire Nation with thriving minority communities 
throughout the state.
  Not only do the reauthorized provisions in the VRA not take into 
account the progress that has been made, these provisions will be used 
as an unfunded mandate on southern States for the next 25 years. 
Legislation created in 1965 to fix a problem of that era, will still be 
in effect in 2032; far too long to pay a penalty for things that 
happened generations ago.
  I support the valuable history and importance of the Voting Rights 
Act that passed in 1965, but the discriminatory problems we face today 
were not addressed or considered in this reauthorization. I support 
most of the provisions and the spirit of the VRA; however, H.R. 9 does 
not advance our democracy and keeps in place the taints of previous 
generations that are no longer deserved.

                          ____________________